Lydia

“Lydia, what time is the Ramaru family expecting us tomorrow?” My mom asks me. 

“Thomas says one of his negotiators spoke to dad and they agreed that we will arrive at the Ramaru house at 10am.” I tell my mom. 

My entire family and I have travelled to Venda for my wedding to Thomas. We have just arrived in Venda and we are all exhausted. I’m so glad that my mom, my dad, Rofhi and I were in one vehicle. We were riding in my parents’ Mazarati. My dad’s family from Botswana was picked up by four Quantums and my mom’s family was picked up from Soweto by five Quantums. Some of my mom’s family is from the Eastern Cape and from what I understand, they are still on their way. I don’t know how many of them are coming, but five chalets have been booked out for them. Each chalet accommodates six people. Thomas booked us all into one of the resorts that the Ramarus own. I am sharing a room with Rofhi because I need the peace. My parents are a sharing a room. Then the rest of the family members are scattered across the other rooms. 

Rofhi is passed out, so I take the opportunity to shower. It is just after 6pm and Venda is flippen hot. Rofhi is in shorts and a strapless top. My baby girl is growing so much. She is so beautiful. She is the beautiful combination of her father and me. I wonder how baby number two will be. 

I get Rofhi ready for dinner as well. I am not really hungry, but what can be done? 

My FaceTime goes off. Oh ja, I forgot to tell my husband-to-be that we have arrived. I answer with Rofhi on my hip. She’s still grumpy from waking up from her sleep. 

“Hello groom.” 

“Hello, my beautiful bride. You guys have arrived?”

“Yeah. We actually getting ready for dinner. I’m not even in the mood for eating. I just want to get into bed, watch some TV and prepare for tomorrow. But mama says I’m losing weight and that’s not good for the baby.” I say. 

“But baby, why aren’t you eating? You don’t feel like it or what?” 

“I don’t know, babe. I just don’t have an appetite.”

“Please try to eat something, baby? Please? For our bundle of joy that you are carrying?” 

I smile at him. 

“Why’s the big sister upset?” 

I guess he has just noticed this grumpy one on my hip. 

“She just woke up from her sleep. She was passed out most of the way. You know how she is when she wakes up.” 

“I can’t wait to see you guys. I’m quite excited for tomorrow. The celebrations have started this side. Everyone who can get drunk is already drunk. Every female with hands is cooking something. The yard is full. I think we should have hired out a venue.” 

“I know what you mean, babe. There are so many people from my family that are already here. More will be arriving in the next few hours.” 

We both giggle. 

“All this for us”, he says. 

“All this for us”, I repeat. 

“Lydia! We are all waiting for you.” One of my cousins calls out to me. 

“Babe, I have to go. But can we chat again before I head to sleep?”

“I’ll wait up for you, my love.” He says. 

“I love you, baby.” Me. 

“I love you, Mrs Ramaru.” Him. 

After I hang up the call, I make up way to the dining area. My parents, Rofhiand I are staying at the hotel because it is two people per room. The rest of my family is sharing space in the chalets booked out for them. The plan is that we eat from the hotel restaurant because the chalets are all self-catering spaces. 

“SURPRISE!” 

I’m kinda getting tired of all these surprises. But I laugh. My daughter cries. I feel her. I mean, what the hell?

“What’s all this?” I ask, because I have to be surprised and nice like that. 

“Your bridal shower.” My cousin says. She likes things. I’m sure she had everything to do with this. Then I also see Koena and I am excited because this is going to be a turn up. 

My family and I are not exactly close. There are vibes amongst the elders, so we all just inherited them growing up. I was prepared to let it go and play the “don’t involve me in your issues” card. Then they did something so unforgivable, I don’t even know why they are here. 

My dad’s family hates my mother. That’s always been common knowledge. My mom’s family hates all of us because they blame my mom for making it and leaving them behind. When my siblings passed away in their accident, my dad’s family had the nerve to say that my mom was responsible for the death and she used witchcraft to kill my siblings. My mom’s family said it served us right. According to them, their death was to remind us that we are still human and we need to come back to earth. 

So, I don’t know who phoned these people. I don’t want them here. My mom has been unhappy about their presence and I am her daughter. She should be excited at my wedding. I’m the only one that she will be doing this for. None of these people have the right to take that away from her. But dad says they are family and here they are. 

Rofhi is already on mama’s lap and I am being showered with gifts. I’m obviously donating all of them after this. I don’t trust any of these people and I hate what they are doing to my mom. 

Koena is sitting with my mom. I see them chatting about, so I am thankful that my mom is not entirely lonely. One of her best friends are here, Aunt Manini. That’s mama’s ride or die. 

The three people that I actually like are sitting far away and not involved in this event happening here. Then these ones that I don’t even like are getting drunk, telling me useless sex stories and giving advice on how to keep my man. I know how to keep my man. Thomas has been mine since the day that he laid eyes on me. Our sex didn’t seal the deal, it was the cherry on top. I could teach them a thing or two about keeping a man because most of them are single parents. 

This useless thing takes about three hours and everyone is now doing their own thing. I go to Koena and we hug.

“Mrs R, how are you doing? Are you ready for tomorrow?” Koena asks me. 

“I am. Thanks so much for coming.” I say. 

“Your mom invited me. But your cousins are so mean”, Koena says. 

“Don’t mind them. We only have to deal with them for a few hours”, I say. 

“And in those hours, they must stay away from my man. I found one of them chatting my husband up. Imagine!” She says. 

This is so embarrassing.

“Sorry babe. I’m so sorry.” I say. 

“Lydia, Manini and I are headed to bed. Can I take Rofhiwa?” My mom asks me. 

“I’m also headed to bed. I think I’ll put little madam to sleep as well.” I say reaching out my arms to take my child. Rofhi dives straight at me. 

“Goodnight ladies. I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.” My mom. 

“What time is the family arriving?” I ask. 

“I don’t know. I hope their car broke down. And when they arrive here, no one must call me. Your dad will show them to their chalets because he is the one who invited them.” I feel her.

“And Nana, please. I have food for you and Rofhiwa in my room. Don’t you dare touch food from a plate that is given to you by any of these people. You know they are not happy for you.” 

After this, mama leaves for her room. I lead Koena to my room and we leave with Miss Rofhiwa Ramaru who insists on walking herself. I hold her hand though because she thinks she controls all of us and I am in no mood to be running after her when she takes the wrong direction. 

“Congratulations babe for tomorrow and this is a gift from the hubby and me”, Koena says to me now that we are settled in my hotel room. Rofhi is playing in her playpen that I have set up for her. 

“Thank you so much. This is probably the only gift I will not be donating to the needy”, I say. 

She looks at me weird. 

“My family is… evil.” I explain. 

“Then rather tell them that you don’t want their gifts.” She says in a judgemental tone. 

“Isn’t that rude?” 

“It is. But it’s unforgivable to giveaway gifts that people went out of their way to get for you instead of filling up their grocery trolley. Don’t do that.” She says. 

She really is making me feel bad. 

“And don’t call people needy. That’s just rude.” 

Well, what do we call them? 

I am saved by the arrival of my family from the Eastern Cape. The noise outside distracts both of us. While I decide that I am calling it a night, she also announces that she is heading back to her hotel where she is staying with her husband. 

I don’t know what to make of what just happened. 

… 

Thomas

“Msomi, is this man aware that his playboy days are over? Lydia doesn’t look like the type that will let him get away with what pearl let him get away with”, Samuel says. 

All the gents laugh. 

It’s my bachelor party. The strippers have danced and have been paid. Now, we are just talking nonsense. 

“I don’t need anyone else. Lydia is it for me.” I admit and I mean this. 

“She is giving you two under two. Y’all couldn’t even wait for Rofhi to produce full sentences and you have another one on the way?” Rudzani. 

“Tom has always wanted kids. I’m not surprised.” One of my cousins says. 

“And Rofhi is one of those kids. All I’m saying is that you could have given her more time to be an only child.” Rudzani. 

“I don’t think it has anything to do with anyone who is not Lydia and Thomas.” Msomi comes to my rescue. 

Everyone is silent and look at him. He is unapologetic about it. He just drinks. He seems a bit off tonight.

“Msomi, let’s take a walk?” I say. 

He takes his glass and follows me to the balcony. 

“Everything okay?” I ask him. 

“Just fighting with the wife. But we will fix it.” He says. 

“About what?” 

“Landiwe called.” 

“Landiwe? Why?”

“I don’t know. She said she needed my help with something, but I obviously couldn’t enquire further because the wife was treating me like I’m still smashing her.” He says. 

“Shit!” 

“Yeah. Then one of Lydia’s cousins told me I look nice and introduced herself to me. We started chatting because we discovered that we are going to the same wedding. And now I’m in even deeper shit.” 

Mthunzi is definitely uncomfortably approachable. It is funny and you understand it when you are close to him, but not sleeping with him. But I can see how Koena feels and maybe I should try and make him see it. 

“It just feels like I can never do anything right in her eyes. I am always guilty of something and I’m honestly beginning to lose my cool.” He says. 

“Chief, put yourself in her shoes for a second. I mean how would you feel if every time you guys bumped into a dude, he wanted to make a move on her? And she’s too oblivious to see it, so she entertains it not knowing that this guy is paving his way to smashing?” 

“But that’s not what I’m doing.” 

“To her it seems that way and it’s clearly hurting her. Chief, she dealt with Sindiand that almost drove her crazy. The two of you got together behind Sindi’sback. You don’t think she thinks about that every time a woman throws a look at you?” 

“Thomas, what am I not doing? Where is my approach lacking in keeping her secure?” He asks me. Let me take this a notch higher. 

“You know that Rudzani is looking at her, right?” 

His face changes to anger. Good. I’m getting somewhere. 

“She wasn’t wearing her ring, so he didn’t realise that she’s married. Koena is a beautiful woman. You think you are the only one who sees it? There’s a reason why that Thabiso guy – I think it was her son’s father – there’s a reason why he left her all that money. You don’t smash a woman like Koena and treat her like it meant nothing. She’s the kind of woman you take your time with and leave the door open for another shot if possible”. 

“Come on, now. This is my wife.” He says.

“And you are her husband. And when other women talk about you like this, she feels the exact same way that you just felt. I appreciate that this is something you cannot control, but you need to try and limit the access. Chief, she lives with your son. She has buried her son and her son’s father. How do you think things would have been if they were both still alive and were involved in your lives because of the son? I can tell you now that knowing you, you wouldn’t fuck with it the way that you are expecting her to fuck with what you are doing to her.” 

He is silent, but he ponders on what I have said.

“I like Lydia for you. She’s made you a man.” He says. 

“I actually think I’ve never enjoyed being an ass-wipe. My situation with Pearl just happened to take this part of me away.” I tell him. 

“Well, I thank Lydia that she brought it back. And I thank you chief for the advice.” 

We shake hands. 

Koena phones him. He looks at his phone and takes a deep breath before answering her, putting her on speaker. 

“Baby.” 

“Hey. Are you coming back tonight?” She asks him. 

“I’m wasted, baby. I don’t think it’s safe for me to drive. I’ll probably crash here.” He says.

“Then what are you going to wear? Your clothes are here.” She says. Her tone is changing. 

“So must I drive in my drunk state? And if I get into an accident or get arrested?” Mthunzi is also losing his shit now. He clearly heard nothing and gained nothing from this conversation. 

“You can do whatever the fuck you want. Good night.” Koena says then hangs up. 

Mthunzi looks like he wants to cry. He is actually shaking – it must be anger. 

“I’ll get someone to drive you back to your hotel, chief.” I say and leave him there to ponder on what just happened. 

…

The singing tightens my stomach into knots. Lydia gave me a heads up ten minutes ago that her family was five minutes away from my home. Now, there is singing outside and a lot of colour. I wish my parents were still here to see this day. My mother was very upset when I married Pearl. She never like Pearl from the moment she laid eyes on her. Pearl was adamant that she would not be bullied out of her marriage, so she antagonised my parents every chance she got. My mom always said to me, “Thomas, you will never last with this woman. I pray the good Lord keeps me to see you divorce that woman and marry someone worthy.” I wonder if she would have liked Lydia. 

The singing is getting louder now. I look out of the window, trying to find my bride. But there are just so many people accompanying her here that I cannot spot her. I cannot even spot my little princess, Rofhiwa. 

“Can you believe your luck? Such a beautiful bride?” My brother says to me. 

I giggle. 

“She loves you.” He says. 

“I’m standing here, wondering if mom would have liked her.” I say. 

“She is no Pearl. She becomes who she needs to be when the situation allows. She would have found a way to make sure that mom loves her. Rofhiwa would have stolen mom’s heart though”, he says. 

My other two brothers join us. The wives come in afterwards. 

“I didn’t know that Lydia is Xhosa”, one of the wives says. 

“Her mom is. But her dad is Tswana, so that makes all of them Tswana.” I explain. 

“Oooooooohhhhhhh”, they all say. 

“They are ready for you to come outside. We have actually come to fetch you.” One of the wives says. 

I take one last look out the window. I still don’t see her. I guess I’ll meet her outside. 

As we chant our songs towards the Khalo HUGE family – led by TshiVendayoung maidens dancing and leading us in traditional song and dance- I finally see my beautiful bride. She is dressed in her seTswana dress and has covered her shoulders with a white fleece blanket. She is so beautiful! Rofhi is next to her, walking next to her mother, but also caught up in the singing and dancing. She is dressed in the same dress as her mother. My girls are so stunning. 

Everything is honestly a blur. I start paying attention again when Lydia’s hand clutches into my hand. Rofhi holds my other hand and now the three of us are walking together with our hands locked together. 

We are seated on two couches on a stage, overlooking everyone in the tent. Lydia doesn’t look well. She looks happy, but not well. She is beautiful, but something about her is not good. Her hand is shaking. 

“Baby? You okay?” I ask her. 

“Can I please just get something to eat? I’m starving.” She says. 

I stand up and let her stand up with me. I know that there are speeches going on, but my wife is not well. We get into the kitchen and she grabs one of the baked scones we see here. She sits down and I pour her some juice. She is even sweating. 

“Why didn’t you eat?” I ask her. 

“I was late this morning, so there was no time. And my mom says I cannot accept food from just anyone”, she says. 

“Has Rofhiwa eaten?” I ask her. 

“Mama fed her”, she says. 

I kiss her then sit next to her as she eats. 

Her mother runs into the kitchen with one of my aunts.

“Are you okay?” Her mother asks. 

“We just getting her sugar levels up. She was hungry.” I say. 

My aunt is a nurse, so she insists that Lydia drinks Rehidrant. We don’t protest. She mixes a sachet of Rehidrant in fridge water and adds ice to it. Lydia enjoys every gulp of that glass. She does look a lot better.

She takes her half empty glass and we make our way back to the tent. We are welcomed with ululating. I spot the Msomis walking in and trying to find a seat. It’s full here. They resort to standing and I am not happy about this. I text one of my brothers to get two extra chairs for them. 

A few speeches later, plenty of chairs are brought out and there are more people sitting. 

People are asked to go dish up their food while Lydia and Rofhi go change into their tshiVenda outfits. I go with them, leading them to my room. 

The first thing we all three do is lie on my bed and cuddle into each other. I missed my girls. The moment has to be cherished. Rofhi is now bored of us, so she jumps off the bed and gets busy in the room. It’s just my wife and I now who are cuddled into each other. We keep kissing here and there. 

“You look so beautiful”, I tell her.

“And you look so handsome”, she says. 

“I think we should run away from the celebrations early so we can have fun together.” I say.

“And your daughter?” 

“FUUUUUCK!” 

“Language!” 

We both giggle. 

Then we kiss again. 

I’m getting hard and she won’t be able to help me. I need to release into my wife. I’m a married man. I cannot be jerking off my hand like a lonely teenager that can’t get a girlfriend. 

I pull her to the insuite toilet. I have never been this grateful for Rofhi’s playpen that’s set up in here because she loves her playpens and they keep her occupied. I unzip Lydia’s dress. Her stomach is growing. It is actually swollen now. This baby is coming and she looks sexy. I bend her over the bathtub and lower my pants. When I slide inside her- she’s already wet. This feels so good – the thrusting inside of her and just listening to her moan. Her ass, as small as it is, is perfect. I thrust and thrust and thrust and she shakes just as I ejaculate inside of her. 

We both get cleaned up quickly and she gets into the bedroom where Rofhiwa is still busy in her playpen while watching something on YouTube on my cellphone. She takes over our devices these days. We bought her an iPad, but I’m not sure where it is at the moment. 

“Where’s Rofhiwa’s iPad?” I ask her mother. 

“In her baby bag. The bag is in my dad’s boot”, Lydia tells me. 

I nod my head. 

As she dresses Rofhi up in her tshiVenda colours, Lydia grabs my phone from Rofhi and throws it on the bed. Rofhi slaps her mother and Lydia shits on Rofhi. Now Rofhi is crying and Lydia doesn’t give a damn. She dresses her up then brushes her cornrows neat, then hands her to me to calm her down. Mothers and their daughters. 

Now Lydia puts on her dress and for whatever reason, it doesn’t fit. Lydia’s baby bump is fighting with the zip. I try to zip her up, but the zip ends up breaking. Now Lydia gets emotional. She phones her mother and explains the situation. In about ten minutes, her mother is up here with my aunts and they are trying to bring forward solutions. 

“She must just wear the actual tradition and not this fancy dress.” My aunt says. 

Lydia looks like she wants to die. 

“Where else are we going to get a designer who can make a dress in a few minutes?” My aunt has no mercy and my wife is in tears. 

“It’s the pregnancy hormones, not your aunt”, Lydia’s mother whispers to me. 

“Thomas, your mother’s attire that she wore when she married your dad is here.” My aunt. 

“Can you all please give me a minute with my wife? Please?” 

The room is empty. Lydia’s mother left with Rofhi. I sit next to my sobbing wife. I bring her towards my chest. 

“Baby”.

She sobs.

“We can go out there and tell everyone to leave if you want. We are already married anyway.” I say. 

She lifts her head and looks at me like I’m crazy. I expected this. I smile at her. 

“I’m serious. I don’t want you to go out there in an outfit you don’t want to wear. You are my wife. Mrs R gets what she wants when she wants it.” I say. 

“Do you think I’m fat?” Now this I did not expect. She never had these fat moments when she was carrying Rofhi. Why now? 

“I think you are sexy. I think you are carrying the most precious part of me. I think you are a gem. And I think you will always be sexy.” 

She smiles at me. 

“And I think you will look so beautiful in your full tshiVenda outfit.” I squeeze that in there. 

She smiles at me. 

“I just want to be beautiful for you. No one else.” 

“And you are, Mrs R. This day is almost over. Then we will rest and I will spoil you to your heart’s content. It’s just a few more hours.” I say. 

She wipes her face that’s filled with tears. She promises to dress up in the outfit that my aunt brought in here to resolve the dress crisis. And she does. And she looks…